Feature — Games
Filters
All
Text-only Compact View
Text-only List View
Text-only Grid View
List View with Images
Grid View with Images
Producer Keita Iizuka: Code Vein 2's Story Will be Darker Than the First
From a darker story and more customization options, here's what to expect from this sequel.
― Bandai Namco Entertainment's sequel to its 2019 hit, Code Vein, is set to release next year. The action RPG features a unique Buddy System that gives the players a partner to explore within Code Vein 2's dystopian world. After the debut trailer gave the world a first glimpse into the story, the game is still...
Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY Brings Canon Source Material to Life
Worlds collide in the new collaboration between MTG and FF.
― Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix partnered on a collaboration that felt like worlds colliding. Longtime Magic: The Gathering and Final Fantasy fans have a new topic to bond over as MTG, one of the largest tabletop card games in the world, integrates characters from Final Fantasy into stunning cards. Speaking with Zakeel Gordon, an exe...
Resident Evil Requiem – The First RE Game to Make Me Jump
The latest Resident Evil game is the equivalent of an icy hand on your neck when you think you're alone.
― The latest installment in Capcom's Resident Evil franchise turned heads during the Summer Game Day trailer premiere. Despite the series turning thirty next year, the RE development team manages to breathe new life into every addition in its long history. Despite the Biohazard games defining the ...
Sonic Team Studio Head Takashi Iizuka's Bid to Appeal to Japanese and Global Audiences Through Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
With some surprising guest characters, the latest Sonic game is ready to prove its bona fides to as many people as possible.
― As the latest exciting addition to the Sonic gaming franchise, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds surprised fans worldwide with the inclusion of Miku Hatsune, Like a Dragon's Ichiban Kasuga, Persona 5's Joker, as well as Minecraft's Steve, Alex, and Creeper. A total of twenty-three pl...
Onimusha: Way of the Sword Keeps True to its Predecessors
The latest Onimusha game looks modern while simultaneously keeping the charms and unique gameplay mechanics from its previous entries.
― Capcom's Onimusha series had a long run on the PlayStation 2, starting with 2001's Onimusha Warlords. It was basically Resident Evil but with samurai, due to the gameplay's focus on fixed cameras. However, Onimusha didn't really take off nearly as well as Capcom's i...
Capcom's Pragmata is Intriguing
The game finally has a release date, and the demo shows that it's worth being excited for.
― Five years ago, Capcom released the announcement trailer for Pragmata, a new sci-fi IP. It was only a cinematic trailer, but it piqued my interest as it showed an astronaut interacting with a small girl. All of a sudden, their surroundings completely warped in zero gravity, with both of them sent flying and a...
Code Vein 2 is Bigger and Better
With a customizable player character and a new bike, Code Vein 2 is looking like a good bet for 2026.
― One of the biggest surprises during Summer Game Fest was the announcement of Code Vein 2, Bandai Namco's follow-up to the 2019 vampiric soulslike RPG. The game is slated to launch sometime in 2026, and I got a chance to learn more about it through a hands-off preview with Bandai Namco. Code Vein 2 ...
Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is Hades but Japanese
Bandai Namco's newest roguelite is Hades with an Eastern flair - is that enough to make it worthwhile?
― During Summer Game Fest, Bandai Namco revealed a new roguelike game called Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree. While it was a bit difficult to tell what it was just by the gameplay trailer, it looked like Supergiant's massive hit roguelike game Hades, but with an Eastern aesthetic. Turns ou...
Hands-on with Anime-Inspired Rogue-like Game Starlight Re:Volvers
Ever wonder what would happen if you took Sailor Moon, Kamen Rider, and Hades, threw them in a blender, and covered the result with hot neon paint?
― Ever wonder what would happen if you took Sailor Moon, Kamen Rider, and Hades, threw them in a blender, and covered the result with hot neon paint? Well, wonder no longer. The answer is Starlight Re:Volver. Recently, I was able to spend a few hours with...
Production +h Want Dark Machine To Be For Gaming What Slam Dunk Was For Basketball
Producer Fuminori Honda and director Tomoyuki Kurokawa discuss working on Dead Dead Demon’s Dedede Destruction and what viewers can look forward to with Production +h’s video game anime Dark Machine.
― Despite being newer on the scene, Production +h is an anime studio already making waves with animated films like Netflix's The Orbital Children and the anime adaptation of Inio Asano's post-apocalypti...
An Easy, Step-by-Step Guide to “Getting Gud” at Elden Ring Nightreign
Elden Ring Nightreign is not an easy game—not even for experienced “Sloulsborne” players. So here’s a simple guide to make your runs through the land of Limveld much more fruitful.
― The key to playing Elden Ring Nightreign is not memorizing boss patterns and learning attack windows (though let's not pretend those aren't still important). Rather, it's a game about getting as strong as possible as fas...
Persona 5: The Phantom X Makes Smart Changes to the Traditional Persona Formula
The free-to-play spin-off brings smaller-scaled crimes to your mobile device.
― Persona 5 was released almost a decade ago in Japan. Since then, we've had many spin-offs: Persona 5 Strikers, Persona 5 Tactica, Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight, and Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth. I'm surprised we haven't had a Persona 5 spin-off fighting game. While the whole world is waiting for even the slightest ...
Bravely Default Switch 2 Remaster Game Preview
From 3DS to Switch 2, George Yang checks out this RPG's graphical and interface updates to see if it's worth the double-dip or a first-time playthrough.
― Bravely Default was a gem on the Nintendo 3DS back in 2012. Its turn-based combat and sense of adventure invoked old-school Final Fantasy vibes during a time where so many other games were incorporating open-worlds and more action-oriented gameplay...
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army Is Shaping Up to Be One of Atlus' Best Games
I spent three hours playing the remaster's first two chapters, and it's shaping up to be one of Atlus' best games, especially from a combat angle.
―
Atlus and Sega had quite a momentous 2024 with the release of big hits like Persona 3 Reload, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and Metaphor: ReFantazio. This year, Atlus is taking it a bit easy with its releases. Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Sou...
Honkai: Star Rail Lead Game Designer Chengnan An on Creating an Immersive World
― ANN caught up with Hoyoverse's Lead Game Designer, Chengnan An, at this year's Game Developer's Conference. After graduating from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Chengnan An joined HoYoverse in 2016 as the Lead Combat Designer of Honkai Impact 3rd, responsible for developing and fine-tuning the game's combat mechanics. He advanced to a more strategic role in 2019 and now serves as the Lead Game Des...
PREVIEW: Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar
Grow your crops, romance your neighbors, and sell them goods in the upcoming Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar remake!
― Once again, the future of the Story of Seasons series lies in the franchise taking a look at its past! Marvelous was generous enough to give us a first look at the upcoming Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar remake. Longtime fans might remember this game from the Nintendo DS; the years h...
PREVIEW: Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
Jean-Karlo explores the world of the latest Rune Factory game, Guardians of Azuma, to find out what's ahead for the franchise.
― Fans of Rune Factory can finally sigh in relief: we finally have word on the new Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma title! We were fortunate enough to be given a first-hand look at the game courtesy of Marvelous, who was excited for fans worldwide to experience this new take ...
Interview: Zero Escape's Kotaro Uchikoshi on Ever 17 and Never 7 Finally Coming West
Newly available to Western gamers, Uchikoshi talked to us about the evolution of his themes, his popularity overseas, and how COVID changed his thoughts on sci-fi themes.
―
Kotaro Uchikoshi has garnered something of an international cult fandom. He's known for science fiction-themed adventure games such as Zero Escape and AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES and his collaboration with Danganronpa creator Kazutaka ...
10 Things I Learned About Elden Ring Nightreign Playing the Network Test
This past weekend, a select group of fans from across the world, myself included, got the chance to participate in the Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test. Here's what I learned.
―
This past weekend, a select group of fans from across the world, myself included, got the chance to participate in the Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test. Over 18 hours, we experienced a game that takes Elden Ring and mixe...
Creating a Classic JRPG in the Modern Era: An Interview with Final Fantasy Creator Hironobu Sakaguchi
"I write a certain amount every morning, but I do it while I'm engaging in "gameplay" within an imaginary world."
― This past December, Hironobu Sakaguchi, the man known as “The Father of Final Fantasy,” brought an upgraded remaster of his studio's latest JRPG to PC and consoles with Fantasian Neo Dimension. Recently, ANN asked him a few questions about his return to making traditional turn-based RPG...
Hiro Mashima Praises Fairy Tail 2 Video Game in New Interview
“The level of accuracy is high, and being able to walk to places that were actually in the manga is fantastic.”
― While video game adaptations of popular anime are now more than commonplace, few anime are as well suited to jump between the mediums as Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail. With its sprawling fantasy world, extensive cast of colorful characters, and focus on explosive action, it's no wonder there...
The Best Video Games of 2024
From new, original masterpieces and powerhouse sequels to game-redefining expansions and reimagined classics, gamers feasted this year.
― 2024 was a great year for games. From new, original masterpieces and powerhouse sequels to game-redefining expansions and reimagined classics, gamers feasted this year. But which were the best of the best? Let's get into that, shall we? Here, in no particular orde...
Interview: Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 REMAKE Producer Kazuhiro Echigoya
We spoke with producer Kazuhiro Echigoya for more insights into how the strategy video game remake promises to bring a beloved classic into the modern era.
― Koei Tecmo's Romance of the Three Kingdoms – known in Japan as Records of the Three Kingdoms - is a long-running and beloved strategy game series. It is set during the Three Kingdoms era, much like Koei Tecmo's famous Dynasty Warriors franchise....
Onward to the Alvarez Empire: Hiroshi Kataoka Discusses FAIRY TAIL 2
The longtime action RPG producer acknowledges the criticism levied against the original FAIRY TAIL game and how this sequel will offer a fundamentally different experience.
― Can you name a popular anime that doesn't have a tie-in video game? Sure, there are some rare exceptions, but just about every anime series that's even moderately popular will get the video game treatment sooner or later. Some ...
Interview: Danganronpa Creator Kazutaka Kodaka is Gambling His Studio's Future on His New Game
Previously stuck in development hell, Kodaka and Uchikoshi are betting the very existence of their studio, Too Kyo Games, on the success of The Hundred Line.
― The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is an upcoming visual novel/TRPG from the creative minds of Danganronpa's Kazutaka Kodaka and Zero Escape's Kotaro Uchikoshi. At Tokyo Game Show 2024, Anime News Network was able to see a bit of the new ...
Interview: Bridging Dungeon Fighter Online and Dark Souls with The First Berserker: Khazan
We got hands-on with the the big upcoming Souls-like games: The First Berserker: Khazan.
― One of the big upcoming souls-like games is The First Berserker: Khazan. I got some hands-on time with the title at the Tokyo Game Show 2024. I also got to sit down with the game's creative director, Junho Lee, and art director, Kyuchul Lee, to discuss the game's connection to the nearly 20-year-running Dungeon...
A Bright and Colorful Adventure: An Interview with BAKERU Director Tadanori Tsukawaki
We spoke with BAKERU's director—Tadanori Tsukawaki of Good-Feel about a wide range of topics—from the game's anime inspirations, its educational elements, and even giant robots for good measure.
― While playing through BAKERU, I couldn't help but reminisce about the 3D platformers that defined a large part of my childhood—Ape Escape, Sly Cooper, the list goes on. But as mentioned in my review, my fo...
Palworld Will "March On" Amid Nintendo Lawsuit
Pocketpair's Global Community Manager John “Bucky” Buckley said, “[Refuses] for any plans to be changed. We march on,” when asked about any changes to the company's plans moving forward.
― In January 2024 the video game world was abuzz with an early access game. That game was none other than Pocketpair's Palworld. A survival and monster-taming game, it saw over one million players on its early access...
Managing the Stress System: REYNATIS Creative Producer TAKUMI
With its combination of style, fashion, and high-flying action, REYNATIS was one of the bigger action RPG surprises of the summer. We sat down with creative producer TAKUMI, to speak more about the game.
― With its combination of style, fashion, and high-flying action, REYNATIS was one of the bigger action-RPG surprises of the summer. We sat down with TAKUMI, REYNATIS's creative producer, to speak mo...
The Top 5 Games from Nintendo's Holiday Line-Up
We tested some of Nintendo's most highly-anticipated games of the year and found five to add to your Christmas list!
― Usually, I don't want to see any Christmas promotions before Halloween, but I make an exception for the Nintendo Holiday Tour, which came to NYC in September to showcase games and merchandise Nintendo is selling this holiday season. Many games were on display, including games from ea...
Mario & Luigi: Brothership Game Preview
We checked out the demo in New York City and this seabound Mario & Luigi entry is shaping up to be one of the more exciting titles of Nintendo's 2024 holiday line-up.
― Mario & Luigi: Brothership had its own preview event in New York City the week after the Nintendo Holiday Tour. This is the first full new game in the Mario & Luigi RPG series since Paper Jam in 2015, the first for the Switch, and th...
Guilty Gear's Artistic Identity, Upcoming Anime with Ken Miyauchi, Shoichi Kitazono, and Genki Mamada
ANN sat down with GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- staff to discuss how important art is to not just Guilty Gear’s gameplay, but also its identity.
― GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE-, which recently surpassed 3 million players and has an anime adaptation in the works, is arguably the most stylish fighting game currently on the market. Moreover, it leans very heavily into this stylishness by allowing its visuals to play a r...
Creating a Game Space Where Anyone Can Gather: Hidetaka 'Swery' Suehiro on VR
Swery is best known to gamers for his off-the-wall characterization and unconventional genre mixes. For a great example, look no further than his new VR multiplayer: Death Game Hotel.
― Hidetaka Suehiro, best known to gamers as "Swery," has long been appreciated for his off-the-wall characterization, unconventional genre mixes, and unique settings in games. For a great example, look no further than S...
Recreating a Video Game Classic with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's Naoki Hamaguchi, Yoshinori Kitase, & Teruki Endo
In ANN's exclusive interview, the team behind Final Fantasy VII Rebirth reveals the wildest fan theories, streamlining its technical aspects, and what they think of the mixed reactions to its conclusion.
― Taking on one of the most beloved entries in the Final Fantasy franchise was never going to be an easy task. Square Enix's Final Fantasy VII was originally released in January 1997 to high demand,...
Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes with Director Kamone Serizawa
ANN got to chat with UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes director about what’s in store for its future, and Serizawa’s other favorite fighting games.
― Since its release earlier this year, fighting game fans have been loving French-Bread's UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes—which, just as Arc System Works CEO Minoru Kidooka expressed hoping for at EVO last year, was fought on by players on EVO's mainst...
A Chat with Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection Producer Shuhei Matsumoto
ANN sat down with producer Shuhei Matsumoto at EVO to talk about the highly anticipated re-release of Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Street Fighter’s new DLC, and more.
― It's hard to overstate how intensely fighting game fans have been pleading for an official re-release of Marvel vs. Capcom 2, which initially came out in 2000. So as you can likely imagine (if you didn't see it for yourself), the news that i...
HUNTER×HUNTER NEN×IMPACT's Tomoyasu Miyazaki Talks Bringing Fan-Favorite Series into Gaming Arena
Creators were given near 'total freedom' to bring anime's story to life in NEN×IMPACT.
― Hunter × Hunter is a massively popular series, with passionate – and patient – fans. The series has continued in fits and starts, as its creator Yoshihiro Togashi has been plagued with health issues. But the quality has proven to be worth the wait for millions in Japan and internationally. When Bushiroad announc...
President Kondo and the Power of In-House Staff at Nihon Falcom
How does a relatively small studio continue to create deeply satisfying story-led games? President Kondo shares Nihon Falcom's secrets to success.
― Nihon Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo kicked off a busy July 4 weekend at Anime Expo. He and the other Nihon Falcom staff spoke to fans at the various panels and at the NIS America booth as they eagerly playtested the company's signature JRPGs. Origina...
Interview: An Umineko Retrospective with Ryukishi07 & Sayaka Ohara
Popular sound novel creator Ryukishi07 and Beatrice voice actor Sayaka Ohara look back on Umineko's mysterious ending.
― Ryukishi07, the mind behind the When They Cry franchise, and voice actress Sayaka Ohara came together for Anime Expo 2024. Ohara voices the legendary Golden Witch, Beatrice, from Ryukishi's Umineko When They Cry series. Although the final chapter in the story was released in 2011,...
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Team Discuss Updating the Series After 25 Years
The video game industry has changed quite a bit since Fatal Fury's hiatus. The team discuss updating for the modern fighting game community.
― The Fatal Fury series made its debut in 1991 with Fatal Fury: King of Fighters around the time when other fighting game franchises were starting to appear or hit their stride. The biggest ones we know and love today, including Street Fighter, Tekken, and Mort...
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO Producer Explains the Long Wait for More
Jun Furutani promises characters from Dragon Ball Super movie and the Dragon Ball Daima series.
― The Dragon Ball franchise is one of the most recognizable properties in the world, with a variety of manga, TV shows, and video games created out of it. The Dragon Ball Sparking video game series was incredibly popular in Japan. Known as Dragon Ball: Budokai Tenkaichi series internationally, it garnered ...
Assassin's Creed Shadows Makes Great Use Of Its Two Protagonists
With a series focusing on stealth, trickery, and assassinations, you'd think there'd be an Assassin's Creed game in Japan, right? It took a while, 17 years to be exact, but we're finally here.
― Assassin's Creed has been a household name in the gaming industry ever since it debuted in 2007. With a series focusing on stealth, trickery, and assassinations, you'd think there'd be an Assassin's Creed gam...
Director Kawata and Producer Hirabayashi of Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
Our Summer Game Fest coverage continues with a look at the Japanese mythology-inspired Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess tower defense game.
― Capcom's upcoming tower defense game, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, caught my eye during Summer Game Fest's presentations for its visuals and folklore motifs. The single-player action game combines stellar strategic gameplay, a detailed environment, cloth...
Monster Hunter Wilds Brings Players Back to Nature
The embedded appreciation for nature—and its interconnectivity—in Wilds marks an exciting new addition to the franchise.
― Monster Hunter fans rejoiced at Capcom's newest trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds at Summer Game Fest 2024. While the cinematics amped up the adrenaline rush of the hunt for the new beasts, the preview at Summer Game Fest Play Days demonstrated how that'll play out in the game. Wi...
Metaphor: ReFantazio Feels like Home for JRPG Players
. As much as I've enjoyed the sleek designs ATLUS is now known for, gameplay is more than just aesthetics. Thankfully, Metaphor breathes new life into the JPRG genre.
― At the Summer Game Fest Play Days, attendees played a trial version of ATLUS and Studio Zero's upcoming game, Metaphor: ReFantazio. Development and planning for Metaphor began right after the first Catherine game and has been touted a...
An In-Depth Preview of Rusty Rabbit Game with Writer Gen Urobuchi and Producer Yuichiro Saito
Rabbits, robots, and religion collide in Rusty Rabbit. We sat down with Gen Urobuchi and Yuichiro Saito to discuss the deceptively fuzzy new game.
― Gen Urobuchi's latest game caught the attention of gamers and anime fans alike with its recent story and character trailer. NetEase first teased Rusty Rabbit with a concept trailer at Tokyo Game Show 2023, and now both Urobuchi and producer Yuichiro Sait...
Straight Shooting with Game Creator Suda51
We sat down with game creator Suda51 ahead of his MomoCon appearance to talk about his new game Hotel Barcelona, his current must-watch TV shows, and more.
― The renowned Suda51 has been responsible for countless cult-favorite video games. From the psychedelia of Killer7 to the hells of Shadows of the Damned, from the sunny streets of Santa Destroy in No More Heroes to the blood-soaked setting of the...
The Story of Suikoden
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes promises to revive the Suikoden series in everything but name, but what's so great about Suikoden that it's worth reviving? Well, read on…
― It's 1996, and the PlayStation is just starting to take over the game industry. It has many genres covered: racing, fighting, action, sports, puzzles, train-conducting, deep-sea diving, fire-fighting, and so forth. But what abou...
Exploring the World of the SAND LAND Video Game
Explore ruins, infiltrate enemy areas, cruise the dunes, and more in this video game tie-in to the airing anime series.
― The world is still mourning the loss of the beloved artist Akira Toriyama. His unique worlds and love of fantastical machinery have captured the imagination of fans worldwide for decades. Fans, at the very least, can look forward to one last hurrah from Toriyama in the form of the...
Collect 'Em All: Other Video Games About Catching Monsters
On the heels of Pokémon and Palworld, Jean-Karlo looks back on years of monster collecting, from Megami Tensei to Dragon Quest Monsters.
― Pokémon is undoubtedly the king of the mountain when it comes to the collectible monsters subgenre of RPG—or "Mons" games, as fans call them. And while it's also currently the world's leading multimedia franchise, there's still something to be said about the many ...
Reflecting on Aerith's Death on the Eve of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's Release
“Did you hear that there is actually way to save Aerith from getting killed by Sephiroth?”
― Spoiler Alert! This piece is going to cover spoilers from pretty much every single Final Fantasy VII thing that's come out leading up to Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, including the original game, Advent Children, Crisis Core, FFVII Remake and even Rebirth's trailers. “Did you hear that there is actually way to ...
Another Code, Ace Attorney, and Adventure Games 20 Years Later
The game genre's success has had highs and lows. Is the Nintendo Switch ushering in a new era of sleuthing?
― A new year of game releases has begun, and with it, the first wave of new titles by various developers and publishers. Among these offerings have been several action-heavy titles and role-playing games but, in contrast, Nintendo and Capcom have done something rather different to start 2024 b...
The Best Anime of 2023 - This Year in Video Games
Jean-Karlo slides in to finish the year with the best games and biggest developments in the industry!
― 2023 is finally in its casket. Many would quickly call 2023 one of the best years of gaming in a while, owing to the slew of phenomenal titles released this year. This, however, ignores the almost 7,000 employees laid off from various gaming studios across the nation this year alone. It also ignor...
New Shiren the Wanderer Game Director and Project Manager Talk About Going Back to Basics
Fans enthusiastically told Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island game director Keisuke Sakurai that the first Shiren game was their favorite, and he listened.
― Recently, at a hands-on event in Tokyo, I was able to meet with Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island's director and project manager, Keisuke Sakurai and Hideyuki Shinozaki. We talked a bit ab...
Two Hours Hands-on with Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island
This throwback to "Nintendo hard" games of yesteryear is unforgiving, but that could be just the right challenge for retro game fans.
― The Shiren the Wanderer series, itself a subseries of the popular Mystery Dungeon franchise, has been on hiatus with no new games being released since 2010s The Tower of Fortune and the Dice of Fate on the Nintendo DS. However, thanks to the success of that game's Ni...
The Newest Pokémon DLC is the Biggest Yet
The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Part 2 offers an expansive new area to explore with plenty of new adventures for franchise fans.
― Despite some issues, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet games have innovated a lot of things for the franchise. At the time of this writing, these are the Pokémon games I have spent the most hours on. The recent Teal Mask DLC was enjoyable for its simple story and interesting ch...
The Case For Remaking .hack//IMOQ
With more people than ever talking about the idea of the first .hack game series making a potential comeback, it’s worth examining why so many people want more of this iconic 20-year-old JPRG.
― Years before there was Log Horizon, Sword Art Online, or even Stay Alive, .hack told compelling stories set against the backdrop of MMORPG players being trapped in a game—or in some cases, being made comatose...
Final Fantasy XVI Producer Naoki Yoshida on the Game's Anime Influences and Design Philosophy
Find out how various anime served as inspirations for the final game.
― Final Fantasy XVI is a major departure from the Final Fantasy games of old. We had the chance to talk with Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida about why this is and how various anime served as inspirations to the final game. The Final Fantasy XVI universe seems dark and very adult, perhaps more than usual for this license. ...
WarioWare: Move It! Video Game First Impressions
I got to try a half-hour of the new WarioWare game at the 2023 Nintendo Holiday Tour. Once directed to the hidden area, I and other press members were in for the world's wackiest workout.
―
Do you ever find yourself nostalgic for the Wii era? Motion controls might not have been the best fit for all or even most games, but there's something to be said about how fun they could be for party gaming. Few...
Bringing Under Night 2 to the Arena: A Chat with Arc System Works CEO Minoru Kidooka
Kennedy speaks to Arc System Works CEO Minooru Kidooka about Under Night In-Birth II [Sys:Celes], Guilty Gear -Strive-, Arc System Works' 35th anniversary, and more.
― Founded in 1988, Arc System Works (or ArcSys for short) is the game developer/publisher behind many iconic anime fighting games such as BlazBlue, Dragonball FighterZ, and Guilty Gear—whose most recent entry recently surpassed 2.5 milli...
A Glimpse Into Under Night In-Birth II [Sys:Celes]
Kennedy speaks to French Bread's Kamone Serizawa and Seiichi Yoshihara about the upcoming Under Night sequel: Under Night In-Birth II [Sys:Celes].
― Founded in 1995, French Bread is the game development studio behind anime fighting games such as Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax, Melty Blood, and Under Night In-Birth. They were present at EVO 2023 with Arc System Works, where they announced that they're...
'We Are Limitless': Talking to Arc System Works about Guilty Gear -Strive- Season 3
Kennedy speaks to Arc System Works’ Ken Miyauchi, Akira Katano, and Kenta Asano about Guilty Gear -Strive- season 3.
― The latest entry in the heavy metal-inspired Guilty Gear series, Guilty Gear -Strive- is without question the largest Guilty Gear game yet—and one of the largest fighting games of the current generation overall, amassing more than 2.5 million players. At EVO 2023, Arc System Works an...
A Look Back on the Armored Core Series
It's been a hot minute since Armored Core has been a “thing,” so we've assembled a basic primer for the series for anyone wondering what the commotion is about.
― FromSoftware's entire reputation in the latter day has revolved around its Souls games, and not undeservedly: their intentionally oblique design and borderline-spiteful difficulty have captured the imagination of an entire generation of fan...
What Elden Ring Fans Need to Know Before Playing Armored Core VI
ANN was able to talk with Yasunori Ogura and Masaru Yamamura—the producer and director of FromSoftware's newly released mecha action game, Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon.
― Recently, ANN was able to talk with Yasunori Ogura and Masaru Yamamura—the producer and director, respectively, of FromSoftware's newly released mecha action game, Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon. With the recent success of Eld...
Crafting the Story of Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout with Yashichiro Takahashi
We sat down with Yashichiro Takahashi, who wrote the first and third Ryza games and produced and wrote the Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout anime, on his experience contributing to Ryza and her world.
― The Atelier series has always had a cadre of loyal fans, but the Secret trilogy starring Reisalin Stout truly thrust the entire series into the spotlight. The trilogy might have ended with the rele...
8 Hours Hands-On with Fate/Samurai Remnant
Fate/Samurai Remnant is the newest upcoming game in the ever-growing Fate franchise. How does Fate's brand of magic fit into Japan during the events of the Keian Uprising in 1651?
― Fate/Samurai Remnant is the newest upcoming game in the ever-growing Fate franchise. Recently, I had the opportunity to spend over eight hours with the game—progressing through the lengthy prologue and most of the game's ...
Fate/Grand Order's New 'Memorial Movie' is Emotional Visual Storytelling at Its Best
This nearly four-minute anime music video tells a surprisingly emotional tale and adds to the overall Fate lore by showing what it's like to be summoned from a servant's point of view.
― As part of Fate/Grand Order Fes. 2023, the most recent yearly Japanese convention celebrating all things Fate, we got our newest bit of Fate anime: the Fate/Grand Order - Memorial Movie 2023. Released both at the con...
Rune Factory 3 Special Game Preview
Rune Factory 3 Special looks about as good as it ever will. The character models look far better on PC than they ever did on the DS, with all the charming outfits and designs freed from those tiny grainy screens.
― The Rune Factory 4 Special port gave Rune Factory fans the world over a whole new slew of chances to try out a lovely farm sim/RPG that had been tragically overlooked on the Nintendo 3DS. ...
Anime Expo 2023 - Stirring Up Mysteries with Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Creator Kazutaka Kodaka
RAIN CODE topped Japan's video game sales charts during its debut release, edging ahead of Final Fantasy XVI. Building off its success, we asked its creator about the neon rain-soaked world and if he plans to create more games in the series.
― Game creator Kazutaka Kodaka is well known for his specific brand of "strange," from the conniving murder-teddy of Danganronpa to the wild criminals of Akudam...
Anime Expo 2023 - Final Fantasy Artist Yoshitaka Amano Discusses Next Big Projects
The acclaimed artist is working on his next anime work, ZAN, described as "Ocean's Eleven meets Dante's Inferno."
― Yoshitaka Amano is a man with a seemingly endless drive. He is in high demand, so there's no shortage of ambitious projects to take on. Such a packed slate takes hard work and focus, so you'd be forgiven for thinking such hardened resolve would be paired with a serious, no-nonsense att...
Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening
Much like the famed warlord, Bandai Namco set their sights on the heavens above in honor of the celebration of Nobunaga's Ambition's 40th Anniversary. It's a big game for a big number—so, how does it stack up?
― Few strategy games have the sheer legacy and weight of the Nobunaga's Ambition series. Much like the famed warlord, Tecmo Koei set their sights on the heavens above in honor of the celebratio...
Game Preview - Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
The quirky game from the creators of Ace Attorney is back with a fresh coat of paint. Christopher Farris tests out fan-favorite adventure puzzler.
― It's been well over a decade since Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective possessed the Nintendo DS. The adventure game from Shu Takumi (the same creative mind behind the DS mainstay Phoenix Wright) proved to be a solid cult hit in its time, and now, with a rema...
Preview - Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg
While the 1997 original never came to the United States, Gust is working on a remake of the beloved Atelier Marie RPG. Let's go back to the start and see how the series invites players to take things at their own pace.
― While the Atelier series has seen a recent rise to fame, courtesy of the Atelier Ryza trilogy games, the franchise has always enjoyed low-key popularity among RPG enthusiasts. Its or...
Hands on With April Fools' Game Fate/Grail League
A testament to the existence of the annual Fate/Grand Order April Fools' game, which was only playable for one day. Play baseball with your favorite Servants!
― Type-Moon has been famous for its April Fools' jokes since all the way back in 2005. In the past, these have been anything from fake movie posters to in-character Fate series live streams. However, in more recent years, Type-Moon has released...
Suiting Up to Battle Dinos in Exoprimal
So far, Exoprimal has a fantastic foundation to work with. The game looks amazing, the matches are hectic and fun (if a bit long-winded), and there seems to be a good story on the horizon.
― Team-based hero shooters have to do a lot of work to get out from under Overwatch's massive shadow. Capcom is looking forward to establishing a contender with their upcoming Exoprimal, with a bonus: it's not just...
Arc System Works World Tour Crowns Two New Champions
Players credit netcode use for helping level the playing field internationally.
― Last weekend, DNF Duel and Guilty Gear -Strive- (GGS) awarded winners, Mocchii and GO1, for coming out on top after a grueling day of hard-fought battles. The sold-out event featured the chance to experience the World Tour finals in person alongside the top qualifying players. While living out the excitement alongside ...
Top 10(ish) Games To Look Out For On Nintendo Switch Online
Need some help deciding which classic games to try on Nintendo Switch Online? We're here to tell you about the best games available and which upcoming titles to look out for!
― Nintendo's Virtual Console on Wii, Wii U, and 3DS was an amazing gift: a way for players to buy, download, and enjoy classic games from a variety of old consoles. Not just old Nintendo hits, but even classics from the Turbogra...
Inside Bandai Namco's First Akihabara Arcade
On March 1, the Namco Akihabara-ten arcade opened at the site of the recently closed GiGO Akihabara Arcade #4. This is Bandai Namco's first-ever Akihabara arcade, so ANN dropped by on opening day to see what it had to offer.
― On March 1, a new arcade, the "Namco Akihabara-ten," opened at the site of the recently closed GiGO (formerly Sega) Akihabara Arcade #4 across the street from Akihabara Station...
PREVIEW: Arcana of Paradise - The Tower Game
Arcana of Paradise - The Tower looks simple at first glance, but its straightforward appearance belies a satisfying deck-builder roguelike.
― Arcana of Paradise -The Tower is a real-time roguelike deckbuilding survival adventure published by SHUEISHA GAMES and developed by TASTO ALPHA. Originally set to be released in late 2022 under the title The Tower: To the Bottom, the newly renamed Arcana of Pa...
PREVIEW: Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key
With Atelier Ryza 3's release fast approaching, fans can look forward to an emotional send-off to Reisalin Stroud.
― With Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key, fans are staring down the end of the story of the young upstart alchemist Reisalin Stout –“Ryza” to her friends. The Atelier Ryza trilogy has maintained the Atelier franchise's tradition of cozy atmosphere with charming charac...
PREVIEW: Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse
As a horror title, Mask of the Lunar Eclipse excels at eliciting jump scares, but the ghost design is pretty stale.
― Anime News Network was provided with a preview build for this title. The following impressions are based solely on the game's first three chapters. This preview was played on 'Normal' difficulty. Next month, Koei Tecmo will release Fatal Frame: Mask of the Luna Eclipse for the first t...
What in the World is a Final Fantasy XIV World Race?
Find out why this fan-made event has resulted in some of the most exciting moments in this Final Fantasy XIV and MMO history.
― Final Fantasy XIV's newest “Ultimate” boss fight was released on Tuesday. With it, competitors, streamers, viewers, and casters are gathered once again to commentate and celebrate a fan-made event that has resulted in some of the most exciting moments in this game's history,...
PREVIEW: Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
There's difficulty in terms of enemy mobs, surprise enemies with bumped-up Morale, and bosses that require mastery in deflection, but Wo Long is surprisingly welcoming to even the most inexperienced of Souls-like players.
― While Koei Tecmo already has one foot in the “Souls”-like genre courtesy of their Nioh series, it seems they want to take a second bite at the apple with their upcoming “masocore”...
How Yakuza and Real-World History Collide in Like a Dragon: Ishin!
Richard Eisenbeis talked with game directors Hiroyuki Sakamoto and Yasuaki Uehara about what it was like to combine Like a Dragon's Yakuza-centric stories with the historical events surrounding the last days of the samurai.
― A few weeks back at Sega's HQ here in Tokyo, I got to sit down with both the director of the 2014 Japan-only Like a Dragon: Ishin!, Hiroyuki Sakamoto, and the director of the up...
ANN's Most Read News and Interest Articles of 2022
We bid one last goodbye to 2022 with our top stories from the year.
― 2022 was a very different year compared to 2021 and 2020. The pandemic continued, but it no longer dominated the headlines, and its effects were much less apparent in most of our readers' countries. Although it didn't make the top ANN news itself, one of the biggest stories worldwide was, of course, the return to “life as usual,” o...
The Best Anime of 2022 - The Best Video Games of 2022
Jean-Karlo began his tenure at This Week in Games this year and he's closing 2022 with his top five. Find your next video game obsession right here.
― 2022, the year of the Farm Sim and people asking how Japanese was too Japanese for a Japanese video game. While much of the year was graced by Elden Ring's inescapable impact, it's important to remember that other games quietly came out and sat with u...
Hands-On with Like a Dragon: Ishin!
These are just some of the crazy experiences I had in under an hour of playing. It really felt like there was some adventure around every corner, and I had no idea what would happen next.
― This last weekend, I was able to drop by Sega HQ in Tokyo to spend an hour with the latest build of Like a Dragon: Ishin!, the upcoming remake of 2014's Japan-only Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! It turned out to be a rather...
PREVIEW: One Piece Odyssey
When it comes to recreating One Piece's spirit, One Piece Odyssey is set to pull it off with flying colors.
― With One Piece set to celebrate its 25th anniversary, Bandai Namco is pulling out all the stops to ring in its birthday with the biggest, grandest adventure the Straw Hats could ever face. The result of their efforts is One Piece Odyssey, a JRPG set to release this upcoming January 12th. We w...
Interview: Gungrave G.O.R.E. General Director Kay kim
With Beyond The Grave's return to the world of video games, we have some burning questions for the team Gungrave G.O.R.E team. We were lucky enough to sit down with general director Kay Kim for a quick one-on-one with Grave's resurrectors.
― With Beyond The Grave's return to the world of video games, we've no doubt had some burning questions for the team responsible for Gungrave G.O.R.E. We were luck...
Interview: Star Ocean 6: The Divine Force's Character Designer Akiman
Akiman is a renowned character designer who was called upon to help create the world and cast of Star Ocean 6: The Divine Force. We were lucky enough to sit down with the famed artist to ask him a few questions about his time working on the game.
― Best known for his design work in Capcom's Street Fighter games, Akiman is a renowned character designer who was called upon to help create the world and ...
Interview: My Hero Ultra Rumble Producer Aoba Miyazaki
Find out more about My Hero Ultra Rumble's new mechanics and what sets it apart from other fighting games in the series.
― After the success of My Hero One's Justice, Bandai Namco brings us My Hero Ultra Rumble, a new action game based on the hit shōnen series My Hero Academia. Instead of fighting one-on-one, players will have the chance to put their quirks to the test in teams of three, as being a h...
Kazutaka Kodaka Talks About His New Game, His Writing Process, and Danganronpa
"I’d say it’s like if Quentin Tarantino directed a Disney movie. [Laughs] But that’s something you’d want to see, isn’t it?"
― Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE, the newest game from Danganronpa creator, Kazutaka Kodaka, is coming to the Nintendo Switch next year. We were able to sit down with him and talk about RAIN CODE and how he writes games—as well as his magnum opus Danganronpa. What is Mast...
PREVIEW: Gungrave G.O.R.E
Right away, Gungrave G.O.R.E. feels like a PS2 game—the action is still simple and very satisfying on a primal level, but still featuring clunky gameplay dating back from before character action games had been “figured out” as a genre.
― With Gungrave G.O.R.E., fans of third-person gunplay action can look forward to the return of Beyond The Grave, Yasuhiro Nightow's famed undead gunman. We were fortu...
Anime Influenced Some of 2022's Best Games
Callum May looks at the anime roots in games like Neon White, Elden Ring, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and more.
― While Japanese game creators have been fairly open about their anime and manga inspirations for decades, it's only more recently that Western developers have started to catch on. In particular, it's those in the indie space that have been showing their love for the medium the most, and that's never...
What's Valkyrie Profile All About?
A new and loosely connected game in the Valkyrie Profile series is on the horizon, so what’s the secret behind this cult-favorite series?
― It all comes down to dying. Every character who joins you, from the hardiest warriors to the most innocent newcomers, faces the final moments of existence in a world thick with strife, bloodshed, and sorrow. And death is no release for them, as they take up arms ...
Just What the Heck is Genshin Impact?
If you just heard about ufotable's new long-term collaboration with the Genshin Impact mobile game but don't know what all the hype is about, we have a primer here for you.
― If you look at the list of Twitter's most talked-about games of 2020, you'll see a bunch of names you probably expect: Animal Crossing, Fate/Grand Order, Final Fantasy, Fortnite… and a new title called Genshin Impact. By now, yo...
For all articles, see the archives